Bubble Tower

1969

38 x 7.6 cm diameter

Perspex and distilled water. Transparent cylinder divided into 3 sections connected by a series of random holes through which air and water move.

Produced by the artist in an edition of 25 in different colours and different water motion patterns.

Commissioned for the Play Orbit exhibition at the ICA in 1969, curated by Jasia Reichardt.

Bubble Towers were initially made as toys, but were shown to be very complex and unpredictable in their fluid dynamic aspects.

I wanted to see, hear and feel the dynamics of water and air. The water didn’t just flow all the way to the bottom but would mysteriously stop and then for no obvious reason, a popping sound of air would signal a renewal of flow.